Utd halfway to Europa final after Athletic implosion
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Hey, it's Noah Chestnut from The Athletic. If you're into games and sports, pay attention. I'm going to give you four sports terms. You tell me the common thread. Ready? Game. Match. Point. Set.

This one's kind of a gimme. The answer is how tennis is scored. Do you want more of a challenge? Check out Connections Sports Edition. It's a new daily game for sports fans. To play now, go to theathletic.com slash connections. The Athletic FC Podcast Network. Still a very good ball by Bruno Fernandez. It's given away, though, to Garnaccio by Alvarez. Here's Maguire.

Not the most orthodox of right-wingers, but he's still well over there. In fact, he's going to have another go. Why not beat him twice when you can? It's a great cross, it's a great chance! It's 1-0 to Manchester United! And it's finished off quite brilliantly by Casinero. He's screaming for a penalty, Hoyland, he said he was being pulled, I think, by Vivian. Penalty. Could it be a red card? Awful. Well, he's reaching for his pocket. It is a red card, Robbie, what a call.

Perfect penalty from Bruno Fernandes, he said calm yourselves down everybody, I was never going to miss that. Nice ball by Casemiro, Hoyland trying to do something, Bruno Fernandes is in, this is number three, Bruno Fernandes! Two on the night for the Manchester United captain, three goals before half-time, the Athletic Bilbao supporters stunned.

This is Talk The Devils, the athletics podcast dedicated to Manchester United. It's gone 11pm on Thursday night and what a result Manchester United have just recorded against Athletic Club in Bilbao to put one foot, I think I can say that,

in the Europa League final. My goodness me, where on earth did that come from? We're going to pour over every single detail of that win tonight as United take a three-goal lead back to Old Trafford for the second leg next week. We'll also preview the weekend, but who cares about that right now? We've got a full house as well. Laurie and Karl are with us, and Andy has joined us as well from the San Mames.

Laurie said on X, one of the best European away results in Manchester United's history. Andy said on X, one of the best away European results in the club's history. Kyle on X said, that were good, isn't it? I mean, it was amazing, Andy, wasn't it? What was it like to be there? It was, it was as, it just wasn't expecting this to happen at all. Yeah,

This is one of the great cities of Spain, maybe even Europe. It's a wonderful place to watch football. The weather was great. The atmosphere before the game was wonderful. But you're always worried that Manchester United are going to get beaten because Athletic are a really good team. Really, really good team. So when I sat there at half-time and it said Athletic club nil, Manchester United three on that scoreboard, I was in disbelief. I spoke to some of the families of the players and

And they were the same. And I know we're going to go into great detail about the performances. The atmosphere was splendid. The home fans, they were furious with the referee, but they backed their team right to the end. Almost 3,000 United fans, they made themselves heard as well. But I stand by what you said at the start. It's one of the great results in Manchester United's European history. Absolutely. It's sort of soaking in.

But, and I'm speaking to you now, I'm in the mixed zone. So, I've just spoken to Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes has just come in. We spoke to Tom Heaton as well. Go on, Tom. The mood is good. Tom's a lovely guy, isn't he? The mood is great. I mean, we've had so many bad times this season. I think we can enjoy this. Don't worry about that now. I'm not worrying. I'm buzzing off it. Hey, you go and worry on your own. I'm not, mate. I'm buzzing. Don't make the rest of us worry. We'll talk about worrying a bit later. But don't worry about worrying.

Laurie, Steph's emailed in, what have I just witnessed? I mean, that pretty much sums it up in a way. The best half of our season by a mile. I think it's probably the best result, best performance of the season by a mile in some ways. Most crucial time anyway. She said, told my seven-year-old he could stay up till halftime, but how can I make him go to sleep after that? He's probably still up dancing around the living room, I imagine.

This is one of those nights, isn't it, where it's going to be a struggle to get to bed. You're all hyped up with adrenaline. That's how you want it after a European night, you know, into the early hours. I mean, it's already Friday, May the 2nd for Andy, isn't it, over there? It's gone midnight, right, in Bilbao. So, yeah, love those kind of stories about children being allowed to stay up late. That's what makes...

childhood magical, right? That's what makes this connection with Manchester United strong when you are, you know, early on in your life. So, yeah, it was a, I mean, listen, they had to ride the luck a little bit at the start, didn't they? I know that might be a little bit negative. Don't get the buzzer out on me. But when they went ahead through that, you know, wondrously crazy goal with Harry Maguire acting like Lamin Yamal, then I think we all realised that maybe something quite

unexpected was on the cards your intro actually with the reconfiguration of words between me and Andy made me think of when we've previously said tyres have been finely poised or poised finely well this one doesn't feel it's finely poised

Maybe they could have got a fourth just to absolutely put it categorically to bed. But I think there's a certain precedent to suggest that United are hopefully home and hosed whatever happens now with a three goal lead away from home. Yeah, Carl, nicely poised or poised nicely. Nicely poised, nicely poised. Andy put in the front cover, United we stand. We've been talking about it on the podcast. It's Bilbao or bust and it's looking like Bilbao. So? So?

I mean, good luck if you're a bar owner or restaurant owner in Bilbao right now, or maybe you're counting how many more patatas fritas you need to start ordering because the English are coming. Low is coming, yeah.

everyone's talking about hotel prices and even it's built by one bus doesn't it when you look at the hotel prices everyone's going to be talking about this already I've had messages from people last spoke to in school any chance you can get me six tickets together for the final you know yeah I've had a few I've had a few messages any chance anything else I can do for you

Look, I suppose this is what football managers describe as a nice problem. Yeah. You call it a nice problem, right? After, I mean, there were times in January, February where we're on this podcast and we are struggling to get a decent conversation going. But it's looking likely that the 24th of May

There's going to be a bunch of Man United fans having a pretty good evening in Bilbao because of, in this game, where people were quite nervous, going, oh, I'm not sure about the line-up, oh, I'm not sure about this. United turned up. They turned up. They did the job. And unlike other times where United have turned up and done the job, they didn't take the foot off the gas. They were sensible. They're 2-0 up and you're going, oh, this is nice. And then Bruno went off and got a third. You're like, oh, I'm completely not used to this anymore.

This is more than nice. If you're wondering what the noise is on Andy's recording, he's in the press room, like he said, so there is a lot of journalists moving around and they're getting louder at different points. But I can hear you clearly, Andy. I'm sure the people listening can as well. And we need to talk about one man, really, to kick this off.

Sorry, Bruno Fernandes, you'll have your moment. But Harry Maguire, the glorious bastard. I mean, what on earth was he doing? Even thinking he could attempt that piece of skill and then the cross after. Just unbelievable. I mean...

I don't really know what to say about him anymore. He just delivered. Yeah, I mean, who's going to take this? Laurie, Carl? He's just come through. We've just spoken to him. Well, you, because you just spoke to him. I showed him the cover of United We Stand and he's buzzing off it. And I spoke to his mum and dad at half-time and they go everywhere to watch their son. And I've seen them in some really tricky moments in the last couple of years. I can remember being in...

Wow.

Yeah, when he's got an ankle injury. We all felt that was going to be a big miss. And yet he still went to the final with all of his family. And not every player's family went to that. And it was interesting to see who was here tonight coming along to support them. But I thought he had a really, really top game. And he's got a nice line in humour. And people were just saying to him then, you know, people are talking about you on social media and comparing you to like Ronaldinho and stuff. And he goes along with it.

He doesn't play it down with cliches. He has a laugh with it. He knows that it's only football. He's been through so much. I think he does just ride it out because... His response was, I've had a lot of nicknames. And that speaks knowingly. He knows not all of those nicknames have been positive. We've been calling him Slabbered for ages. There was even that politician in Ghana who called someone else an economic Maguire before he eventually apologised when Maguire turned it round. There was...

A prolonged period where he was a figure of fun. And yet, Harry just kept on trucking. We know what he is as a defender now. I did not know he had that in his locker as an attacker. Although apparently... Oh, Laurie's got his hand up. There is a backstory to this. I mean, Andy, you said the three M's are football, Messi, Maradona, Maguire. Emilio in New York emailed in asking if Maguire has now completely flipped his legacy and his narrative. And Laurie, you wrote a very, very, very...

nicely timed article about the backstory of Harry Maguire's flirtation with centre forward and other attacking positions I'm just so happy that the classic journalist curse did not strike before this game

I nearly did it once when I did a piece about United's winning record at Old Trafford under Oetzenhaag and they went against Sevilla actually, went 2-0 up and it was going to be another win and then ultimately they didn't win that game and so the curse struck there. So I'm glad that Harry Maguire responded to the Athletics article today about his talent as a potential attacker when he was coming through. So an article that I wrote with our mate Critch, who's over there with Andy at the moment,

But yeah, at Brunsmey, this grassroots club that was, I think, coached by his dad, Andy. So he put Harry up front at first, then he put him in midfield, then he put him in defence and he was worried that he might end up as goalkeeper. But...

Further in his career, Sheffield United, when he came through, he played in midfield. And I spoke to Mike Phelan yesterday, obviously, who had him at Hull and then was assistant manager to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when Maguire signed. And I think he's always been quite defensive of Maguire because obviously he was part of the team that signed him and he'd known him from a young age. And I think he respected how much diligence he puts into watching back drafts.

clips and trying to study the game. And he just said he is a footballer, which might sound a very rudimentary critique, but I think what his point was is that he is better on the ball than I think he's given credit for, just because of perhaps sometimes the way he turns in a race or has to track back. That's probably not his skill, but he has a sharp turn, as we've seen on the wing. It did recall to mind

sort of Steve Bruce against Queen's Park Rangers when Eric Cantona scored that late equaliser to put United top in 95-96. And I think Maguire was actually more skilful than Bruce that day. I don't think Bruce was that elegant, to be fair. Would you call Maguire elegant in that moment? I mean... I thought he was, yeah. Yeah? Okay. I just... I mean, listen, I know it's an odd sight, isn't it, to see a guy that big... Very...

You know, do those kind of things on the ball. But he sort of shimmied the ball to first to get a bit of space, did the cut back, which did him, then beat him again. Oh, go on then. And then did another touch to kind of just get that extra little bit of space to put the cross in. Beautiful cross when it went in. And obviously they're fortunate, aren't they? There's so many players in the box because of the set piece that went so badly wrong. Credit to Garnaccio, by the way, for winning the ball back and giving it to Maguire. Not handballing it as well. I don't know how he managed that. Definitely not handballing it. No, no, no.

But yeah, the men in the box, Maguire sort of knew that, didn't he? And put it into a dangerous area and United were on their way. I think one thing with Maguire is he's first to almost every ball that comes in. And if you look to Sonardi, Athletic's number nine tonight. I know he wore number 21. He's a big physical lad. But I think that actually suited Maguire because he played through him and the first 10, 12 minutes...

I'm watching that thinking, this is horrendous from Manchester United. Keep giving the ball away. I was cursing Manu Ugarte. I think Athletic had a couple of chances when they could have scored. But really soon after that, United did take the chances, did settle in front of the crowd, and it was so, so noisy here. That cliche about quieting the crowd down was so applicable tonight. But Manchester United did it successfully. But

He needed a couple of players. Casemiro was another one to settle down some of the younger players because they were making mistakes. They were giving the ball away. I saw Bruno at one point talking to Dorgoo, just saying, just hold on to the ball for a minute. But one player was holding on to the ball more than anyone. It was Maguire. They played the ball back to him and United were prepared to go long. I think Anana was taking three kicks in his first half, in the first half as well, just to try and slow it down.

And then a couple of moments turned in Manchester United's favour. The crowd were totally against the referee. They were fuming with the referee, continually fuming with the referee. It was because they were upset about the call that he got correct. I mean, it was incredible the way that he stood up to the crowd at times. I mean, even in the second half, there was...

there was different minor decisions for free kicks and even throw-ins and stuff. And he seemed to be getting everything right. And to be able to do that in that sort of environment, it deserves a lot of credit really. And it was a definite penalty in my opinion. And a red card had to follow because he wasn't making a genuine attempt to play the ball. Um,

We'll talk about that in a minute. Just on this first goal, Carl, so Casemiro gets the goal. 112th European game for him tonight. First ever goal in the Europa League. But the experience that he showed, he seemed like the crucial player in those early periods for United, just to ride the storm and settle everyone down and just lead, really. Absolutely. Look, we're talking now, and there seems to be a mini-core of...

of adults in the room, adults in the United line-up. So you've got Maguire at the base. The unks, I saw them called actually. The uncles, the unction, as the joke goes. So you've got Maguire, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes leading the way in the 30-plus department. Casemiro, the joke, Casemiro playing in football in Spain, he knows what it's like now. Like Andy said about Maguire being first to win

of balls in the air. We know about Casemiro's aerial ability as well. Even when he was not so good last season, he still had that ability from set pieces and being able to have the ball. This newer, more recent use Amarin's been getting out of him of limiting the space he has to cover and

Ugarte even though Ugarte probably didn't have the best first half on the ball Ugarte can do the off ball running he ended up with two assists in that first half hilarious crazy to anyone couldn't find a red shirt for 20 minutes and then got two assists and the second one was delightful yeah Casemiro has been important in the Europa League he had a very good game in San Sebastian just along the coast from here

He spoke after that game about being used to coming here, about how difficult it was. And you're sort of thinking, is this a bit cliche going to the Basque country? But when you've done it 12 times like he does, he's not blagging. He has done it.

And you can see in the Europa League, he's had some of his best games. I thought he was spot on. His goal was spot on. I think he came across uncovered for Lindelof's mistake when I think he was in Yaki Williams, beat him to the ball. A couple of minutes after that, Lindelof made one, maybe even two goal line clearances. I'm not sure he knew he was making them. Double block to bail out Dorgi's mistake. I think this is also...

Ugarte said in the pre-match press conference and what Amrin has been saying as well in that in the Europa League the physicality level was just a little bit lower than what's in the Premier League so okay in the Premier League 30 plus Casemiro is no longer the axe that clears the forest but when he's in the Europa League you know he's still got old man strength

so to speak there are two or three times where he's up against a defensive midfielder and he's just bullying him and yeah that's good and it's useful and really important that Amrit can find ways to use some of these players who perhaps didn't start the season so well as you enter crunch time okay let's take a breath and talk about the ultimate crunch time player Bruno Fernandes can Bruno Fernandes keep his cool

Perfect penalty from Bruno Fernandes. He said, calm yourselves down, everybody. I was never going to miss that. And Manchester United lead 2-0. Six goals in the Europa League this season for Bruno Fernandes. Right, let's talk about him. He makes sure that we talk about him. Bruno Fernandes, Laurie. I have got so many notes in front of me about some of the brilliant things that he's done and some of the fantastic stats. So I'm going to try and get a few of them in.

He's just the coolest man in San Mames when he took the penalty and then obviously follows it up with the second goal shortly afterwards.

He's had such a decisive mark on the Europa League this season for United. The 90th minute winner against Rangers, the hat-trick against Real Sociedad in the last 16, the pressure pen against Lyon in the last round, and now this tonight. 19 goals in all competitions this season, 16 assists. It's his best total since his first full season at United 2021. And also, across the Premier League, I think there's only Mohamed Salah in all competitions who's got more goals

goals and assists. I think that's pretty stunning that he's getting to that level of his first season at United because that was ridiculous impact. And he spoke after the game, again, you know, very mature. When we say getting close to his first season, I mean, it's just his best total since. He has scored nine fewer goals, but yeah. Wait, when we say his first season, do we mean the first full entire season? First full season, yeah. Thank you. Yeah, he was speaking after the game and he was just...

again compelling with what he was talking about because you know he was sort of asked about the pressure that he feels you know particularly in that penalty moment right I mean it was a big moment and the way he takes those penalties the keeper didn't look like he was moving really I've watched it back a few times and how does Bruno Fernandes know to put it that side of him in that split second it's remarkable timing and

And he also was saying that pressure, when you retire, it goes. So you'll miss it. So I actually thrive in this moment. This is what I want. And I think that's a lovely way to think about the game. And hopefully that then is transmitted to the younger players. I do think he's calmed down a bit this season with his passing. I think Amarin has probably got into him that he wants some more patience in certain moments and not necessarily trying all those things

through balls that he's perhaps been criticised for in the past but yeah he's emerging into a real statesman like figure for United even when it's difficult topics such as Sir Jim Ratcliffe criticising players wages he kind of gave a pretty considered and firm response to that so I think he is a treasure absolutely I think he made an outrageous flick right near the start to set up Garnaccio I think um

One of the journalists just started shouting here. Sorry. And then there was another pass to Garnaccio early on as well. It wasn't an outrageous flick. He didn't agree with you, I don't think. No, he might not have agreed with me. Standard for Bruno Fernandes, yeah. But the penalty was cool. That was right in front of where all the Ultras were. And he just staggered his run up, took his time, and just stroked the ball with his right foot. The angry bass journalist is close. Yeah. Yeah.

This is real life, you know, on the front line. I can't help it. I'm going to praise Bruno Fernandes. I can't help it. That's a good football team. It's not only the referee that's got to sneak out of this stadium. It's Andy Mitten after being too gloating on a podcast. You can't get too carried away, can you? Because it's like, it's not over, is it? They could still win. Oh no, he's up again. He's up running again. You've got to beat 3-0, mate. 3-0. 1, 2, 3, 4.

He wants to know, was it a chip or was it a dink for the third goal? Both lovely words when applied to football, aren't they? Dink.

Bruno is Manchester United's best player and he takes a lot of responsibility and pressure on the pitch but also off it. It's not easy being Manchester United captain. It's not easy dealing with the different factions in that dressing room. It's not easy dealing with the media requests, all the commercial requests. He just does so, so much.

And he takes it on. All right, it was 3-0. Sorry, I just fell and shone away at me. 3-0, those tries. At the risk of annoying Andy's friend even further, Laurie, although he won't be able to hear this, so it's probably fine. Any debate whatsoever about the decision for the penalty? I mean, it was obviously referred to VAR,

It was Danny Vivian's pullback on Rasmus Hoyland. Hoyland seemed absolutely certain from the outset that it was a foul and that a penalty should be given. And they got there in the end. Yeah, I mean, I think you'd already confirmed this earlier in the podcast, Ian, haven't you? And I absolutely wholeheartedly agree with you and dispute the 50-odd thousand athletic fans. It's all right saying that at home, isn't it? Very irate, yeah. Come on.

Should have put it straight to anger. Come and get angry at me, athletic journalists. Yeah, you could just see he would have got the ball. I mean, I know we can make jokes about would he actually have scored? You know, he's missed a few chances. And I'm just saying, that's what people were making jokes about. He said people, not him. People. Exactly, not me. People have said...

The defender knew that he was in a very difficult position. He just acted instinctively and it affected Hoyland. It has to be a penalty. And then, yeah, it's a goal scoring opportunity. So it has to be a red card. And have you just been threatened? He just said, I've got to go in five minutes. Let me just ask him. Sorry, mate. Five minutes or three minutes? Five. Perfect. Okay. I thought it was three. One for each goal. It was 3-0 tonight.

Unbelievable. I'm going to get myself properly slung out of it. I don't want to be disrespectful. I have a huge amount of respect for this football club, for what they do. You're just giddy, aren't you, Andy? We had a podcast about great European away trips, which, you know, maybe people want some more of those kind of podcasts coming, given the results that have followed. But this has made you giddy. You've seen it all. We've won a lot. And this is...

I'm seeing like we're getting messages. Is there some sort of correlation between when we've done a podcast and what happens next? It seems to be what people are pointing out. Yeah, so we've had Tommy on X. You are never not doing a Talk of the Devils extra before a European match again until the end of time. Steve on X. You did a podcast about the best Old Trafford nights, 5-4 against Lyon. Okay. You did a podcast about the best away nights.

0-3 against Athletic Club. Get working on a podcast about United's best final performance. And it was also noted by John on X, Thomas, Neilish and Navin on email as well. So yeah, it's not going unnoticed that we're bringing good karma, basically. Well, it's great. I'm definitely going to get slung out of here. It's been a top, top night. And I know we can't start booking...

trips, travel for the final because United are not through there yet. I know they are and I get why they are. If you can make it, you know, to see Bodo glimpse against Athletic Club because we can't rule out that ever. Just do it. Just do it by train, by plane, by automobile. These are the memories that you remember for the times and...

such a huge result for Manchester United tonight and how they needed it. And I'm not going to say that the club's history turns on such little results because I still think there's a huge amount of work to do and Ruben Amar has played down the importance even of winning this competition this year. But you can just see the confidence in these players and some of them are young, they're inexperienced, they've had a lot of abuse this year.

that was a massive, massive win. They've beaten a really, really good team there tonight. Really strong team. I know for a fact that Man United were looking at this team and the consensus was there is no weaknesses. Now we speak after the game, it's like, oh, they weren't that good, but...

They are good. They're really good. They're a really, really good team. United scored more goals in that first half tonight than Athletic Club have conceded at home in their entire Europa League campaign this season. They'd only conceded two goals in their previous six home matches in the competition. And United have now actually scored more goals in 2025

in seven games in Europa League, 19, than they have in 15 Premier League matches. They've only scored 18 across that time. They've certainly saved the best for this competition. And just looking ahead to the final, Carl, in this competition, 133 teams have won the first leg of a knockout tie away from home by three-plus goals. That's the Europa League and UEFA Cup. It's promising, isn't it? And they've all progressed. It's promising. It's promising.

I know you've just given me a bunch of stats about goals, but the thing that I'm going to take away when I re-watch this game, I'm probably going to look out for more, was also how United were just sensible when they went 3-0 up. That second half, they weren't...

I've seen so many United games this season and in previous seasons where they go 2-0 up, 3-0 up and then they proceed to shoot themselves in the foot. And yet, it was good, sensible. When things got a little bit hairy, scary, you saw Bruno, you saw Casemiro go, hey, behave yourself. You saw Mason Mount pick up his customary yellow card off the bench now. He's got to watch that. He used to be very good at not getting booked and now I'm

Get my beady iron there. Look, Ahmad came on too. And I'm very happy that Ahmad is playing football again. And that's something I'm going to make me very confident about the second leg and even the game that might come after that. So I'm not used to being this happy at a Man United performance. I really don't know what to do with myself now. Say goodbye to me because I've got to go. Just one final thing. I interviewed Alex Berenguer, who was a number 10 for Athletic Tonight. Really, really nice lad.

And I said to him, all right, it was 3-0. He's getting proper beefcake with me now, this fella, because his team's been 3-0. And Alex, who is the player, he recommended a Cali Mocho. He said, this is a red wine with cola and ice. Fresh, delicious. Take that with a steak. The best in the world. That was his recommendation for anyone coming to Bilbao. Red wine and Coca-Cola? That sounds delicious. I was...

What? It sounds like a cheeky vim to from Webster's. I was thinking of you, Laurie, as I said that then. You'd be right all over this, wouldn't you? Have one for me, Andy. Send me a picture and we'll have one in Bilbao later. It's quarter to one in the morning and by myself, I'm about to get in a fight with a local journalist. So I've got a lot on my plate here, but I will try and have one. But hopefully, all things being equal, we can all have one together later on this month. Yeah. It's called Kelly Mocho. TV.

Cheers, Andy. Thank you mucho, Andy. Thank you mucho. I'm not letting you off with that.

Thank you, Mucho. Unbelievable. Riff on Cali, Mucho. Okay, all right, okay. I'll give you that. Thank you, mate. All the best. Look after yourself, mate. Okay, well, just to round off this section then, obviously, I'm sure you will have seen by now, but the result of the other semi-final was Spurs 3, Buddle Glimp 1. Obviously, that game was played in London. Spurs looked to be cruising like United at 3-0, but a late goal from Ulrich Saltner's

It's got a little bit of doubt in there. There was injuries for Maddison and Solanke. And there's this crazy stat for Bud O'Glimp that they've won 70% of their recent Europa League ties at home compared to only 9% away. So I don't think that's quite over just yet. We've had an email in, Laurie, as well, before we sort of move on and talk about the weekend. This is from Francesco, who's a European in Halifax. Can't imagine there's many of them.

He's looked at your Instagram this afternoon and we're sort of labelling it a shameful attempt to try and shed your chips reputation. To shed your chips reputation. Easy for me to say at nearly midnight. Yeah.

He says, absolutely need to know where the food from Laurie's Instagram post was today. The one with the egg yolk on top. It looks outstanding. Egg and chips, was it? Did I get any patatas bravas in that particular tapas sitting? I don't think I did. Well, pincho sitting, I suppose is the correct terminology for it. Thank you.

It was in San Sebastian and it was a recommendation from a colleague, Paul Hurst, who works for the Times, who said that it was Jabby Alonso's favourite restaurant in the area and Anthony Bourdain had been there and got those mushrooms with the egg on top and actually it was...

I'd kind of gone through a bit of the menu, to be honest. I'd got loads of different bits. It was absolutely delicious. Every single little morsel was superb. And then I listened to the podcast. Lauren came and said hello. And she said, have you had the mushrooms yet? And I said, no, but I'm quite full already. And she said, have the mushrooms. So I did. They were delicious. And that is therefore proof that when I go to these places, I invest myself into the local culture, the local cuisine.

It was a beautiful occasion. I was very happy to have it. Okay, so mushrooms, eggs and calimuchos all around then? Exactly.

So next up for Manchester United's men's side is a trip to take on Brentford on Sunday. But also playing on Sunday are the women's team in the WSL midday kick-off at Old Trafford in the Manchester derby against Manchester City. And Carl, just a point needed to guarantee a finish above Manchester City and guarantee Champions League football for the women for next year.

Absolutely huge game for Mark Skinner's side and tickets still going for Old Trafford. So if you are on the lookout for a football experience this weekend, heartily recommend getting yourself down to Old Trafford. If you've not seen Elizabeth Turland play for Manchester United yet, I highly recommend you do. She is phenomenal. Picks up from Brighton and just been outstanding. So if you are...

looking to fill the Mary Earps shaped hole in your United Women fandom I think Turland's going to be the player to do that so yeah get yourself down to Old Trafford if you can

Brilliant, yeah. Over 30,000 tickets supposedly sold already for the game, but like Carl says, they are still available. United have missed the chance this week already to guarantee Champions League football. They took on Chelsea on Wednesday night, lost 1-0. That confirmed Chelsea as WSL champions again. And this will be the fourth time

that they've taken on City this season as well. They lost to them in the League Cup quarter-final, but they beat them in the FA Cup semi, and they also beat them 4-2 at the Etihad in the corresponding fixture earlier on in the season. Ella Toon with a hat-trick, so a little bit more of that, please, Toony, for this game, and what a result it would be for Mark Skinner's side to claim a place in

After all the trouble, all the stuff that we've talked about on the podcast in recent times, to be able to overcome all of that, ride it through and get this third place finish, it would be a big positive for United and the future of the women's team as well. Okay, good luck to them. Let's talk about Brentford. We're sort of not bothered again, in a way. I'm a bothered, face bothered. But,

It was interesting to hear Ruben Amarin say after the match tonight that they need to be really careful with players in this game. So that sounds like mass rotation again. He said that Nusmaz Raoui is dead. I presume he means dead tired. Jeez.

He's said this about Masraoui before, hasn't he? And he's risen again, hasn't he? Yeah, yeah. Patrick Dogg, who's tired as well. So it sounds like those two aren't starting. How many changes do you think he'll make, Laurie? A lot, right? Because that's partly why he's taken a few of the younger players with him to... Interesting tactic, this. Yeah, I mean, it's just going to be, right? I mean, maybe the result tonight slightly changes things because, you know, there's perhaps not the absolute emphasis to...

to really nail home that home leg. But obviously, you don't really want to take anything for granted. But clearly, that was behind Luke Shaw's start on the bench. You know, he'd played 90 minutes against expectations. That was the surprise selection, wasn't it? Where Lindelof started and said, he looked so ropey, didn't he? Apart from those blocks, as we've mentioned. Benedito Mantato, you know, he...

you're on the bench for the first time he's a you know very tricky sort of winger could possibly play as a wing back uh camerson he was in training uh yesterday at carrington as well so you've got these players that might get a sniff now um but that being said you know you had matthias delit come off the bench amad come off the bench and so they are i mean that is a huge boost you know having amad back for this running is obviously totally against expectations will you get your mason mount start

Laurie this is what I'm thinking I'm building towards this surely Mason Mount starts come on Brentford he scored there last season right it was supposed to be a late winner and then it wasn't United snatching draw from the jaws of victory again but I

I think there'll be quite a few changes just because it's needed, right? I mean, you don't want to go into that game on Thursday with any kind of extra injuries. You want to make sure they can perhaps start that game with a strong team and then take players off again to give them that rest ahead of hopefully a final. But,

It's a luxury position now for Amr, isn't it? He would not have expected to have that kind of opportunity late in the game to make those changes purely for fitness reasons. Masraoui Ndorgo, actually, I should say, when I went to Open training yesterday, they were doing separate work themselves away from the first...

the main group to start with at least from the open bit that we could see and that was to do with their fitness levels so obviously each player has a kind of tailored amount of work that they need to do and they were kind of doing running drills rather than in the rondo so I don't know what then happened after that but it had already been earmarked that those two were in a different position to other players so clearly it was

And that's probably, it gives you an indication as to what might happen on Sunday. Yeah, you imagine Rasmus Hoylen might be one that Aberyn has to think about as well, considering the fact that he is the only available centre forward. Yeah, but Chido Obi going over there as well. That's another one. Sorry, I forgot him, obviously. He can't play in the Europa, but he went anyway because of this reason. Well, him and Kone were the two who weren't eligible to play in the Europa League, but have travelled with the squad. I mean, it's a fantastic experience for the lads anyway to be part of this trip, I'm sure, and the result tonight was...

will be a brilliant experience for them. But then they're going to train tomorrow morning in Bilbao before they travel back over to the UK. So, you know, they're obviously thinking about the experiences they've had to this point, how to deal with this all a little bit better, Carl. Yeah.

Because Brentford away is not going to be an easy game, is it, at all? It's a bit like Bournemouth last week, really. Yeah, yeah. Wait, when did Amrin... No, Amrin's not faced Brentford yet, has he? That was on the Ten Hag win. No, I don't think he has. I think that's right. 2-1 win. Yeah, 2-1 win. Lissandro Martinez playing at left-back. Feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? Did Lissandro Martinez play left-back this season? Blimey. He played left-back this season and he was up against Mbwemo.

We know what Brentford are. They can be very direct, they can be very physical. If you want to get really aniraki with your stats, Brian Mbromo is the most transferred in football player this week for fantasy football. Is that a stat? In fantasy football terms it is.

I mean, now you've reminded me to do my... Deadline's Friday, six o'clock UK time. So you've got to get it done ASAP. So the wider neutral fantasy football fan boffin is thinking Brentford's going to win this and is expecting United to be rotated and weakened. But I think it shouldn't just be taken as a learning opportunity to blood some of the youngsters in. You've got to build momentum. And as Andy has said multiple times on this podcast, with every place you can get...

It's about 2 million, 2 million plus in prize money. 2.8, something like that. That is important as well. So go in there, don't injure Ahmad, Bruno, Casemiro, Ugarte or Maguire and then see what happens. Yeah, they need to do that, definitely. I mean, Brentford won 2-0 tonight at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest. They're still just about in the race for Europe.

I think Manchester United and Tottenham are doing the best to extend these European qualification places as far as they possibly can in the Premier League. But it was only the second time this season, Laurie, that they'd recorded back-to-back wins in the Premier League. They're 10 points ahead of United Brentford in 11th place.

But I have in my head that Brentford are a bit of a bogey side for United. It turns out that the famous 4-0 defeat that United had in Tanag's second game in charge is the only time that Brentford have beaten Manchester United in the Premier League in

And United have only lost once at Brentford since 1938. They've only played there four times, but don't let that get in the way. I wish Andy was here to verify that stat, given he was at all those games.

Yeah, it's crazy. I mean, back-to-back wins. Oh, if United could only dream of such a success. But I was thinking, I mean, when you mentioned the Premier League table, so United have scored 39 goals in 34 games in the Premier League. They've scored 31 goals in 13 games in the Europa League. Crazy, isn't it? It's quite insane, isn't it? Physicality difference, right? There's two or three Brentford players that I'm sure if United had bigger budgets, they'd be trying to buy.

And that's not to say chopping at Brentford is bad. That's just to say Brentford have some genuinely impressive football players who probably could or maybe should be playing in European competitions next season. Which has had a great season. I mean, he scored again tonight and Boomer, we know, is the

So those two together, they combine with each other. They often score in both games, don't they? I do think that Hoyland tonight had a pretty good game, actually, given... He did, didn't he? Yeah, no, he didn't score, but obviously won the penalty and his hold-up play was actually pretty good. Hold-up play was good. He had one quite bad offside header, but we'll work around it. Do you start him on Sunday, Laurie? Well, maybe, I don't know, maybe you do just to kind of keep that momentum going for him and then you bring Chido Obi on.

the only thing is obviously if he gets any kind of injury you're absolutely screwed really aren't you centre forward so I don't know maybe you just tell him to go out there and just don't sprint so hard it's also whether you think Chido Obi is ready to start as well I suppose yeah that's the other side of it because he hasn't started yet he's come on as

a sub quite a few times now we're probably up to about five or six are we unless you do the main who is false nine again kind of yeah well you think main who would start wouldn't you it was surprising to see him sort of not get on earlier I suppose we all thought he might have started the game given he came off

after 60 odd minutes at Bournemouth so maybe you want to give him a bit of a run out as well to make sure that he's sharp for the Thursday The Lindelof call was interesting Carl wasn't it? We were sort of speculating in the WhatsApp group where he was going to play in the back three because he's played central mostly

I think the graphics that some of the broadcasters had, had him on the left. But then Laurie told us and it turned out that he was actually starting on the right side of the defence. That was only because Critch had found it in the warm-up. It's a classic of United games now. They just watch the warm-up. They have it in the warm-up and there you go. You figure it out. Interesting choice though. Really intrigued me. His link-up with Masraoui. First 20 minutes, I was a little bit worried. I think the Williams brothers...

Got a little bit of draw on both flanks in the first 20 minutes, but then I think once United adjusted to that press, things got better. We know what Lindelof is right now. He's technically adept. He's solid on the ball, but he has trouble when a wide player is particularly fast or if a player is particularly strong and decides to run through him. But his communication skills, I think,

very often get overlooked by people who say oh I want Lindelof gone there were those games the many matches we played Manchester United played behind closed doors you could tell there was a very audible difference when Viktor Lindelof was on the field compared to say someone like Eric Baye Baye didn't talk Aaron Wan-Bissaka was quite quiet as well so Lindelof's communication and just those simple stuff about man on left right that was really really important and I think

That gives value. I'm not, I mean, by all expectation and reports and Laurie's good work, this appears to be the end of Victor Lindelof's Manchester United career. He's only got a handful of matches left, so hopefully he can end it on a strong point. Yeah, let's hope so. And again, it'll be revealing to see whether he's in the lineup against Brentford or whether Luke Shaw comes back in because...

I know Amarin said before the game they have to be careful managing Shaw's minutes but he played 90 minutes against Bournemouth which I didn't expect and of the two games I kind of felt he'd want

want him to play in Bilbao ahead of the match against Bournemouth. But this is how it's worked out. United have won 3-0. Who cares? Before we finish, Laurie, you had a piece on the latest departures from Manchester United, which I'd just like to reflect on if people have not seen it. So two more pretty senior figures departing. Richard Hawkins, who's the Director of Football Insights and Innovations. Yeah, I don't know what that means either.

And David Harrison, Director of Football Operations, which I do know what it means. But yeah, two sort of pretty crucial people being moved on. Yeah, I would say so. I mean, they are very senior people at the club. And I suppose, again, similar to the Steve Brown situation, they were senior figures in John Murtagh's team that kind of was leading on football. So perhaps...

you know, when you have a new regime, ultimately they just want their own people in and that's the way it's going to go. But I mean, Richard Hawkins has been at the club since 2008. So it's a long time. It's under Sir Alex Ferguson that he first came into the club. What is his role? Director of Football Insights and Innovation? Yeah, I mean, he started out with sort of the physical performance side. So there's that component

slant to it but it's also looking at new technologies looking at data and seeing how that can influence the kind of decisions that are made around you know selections and choices around coaching that kind of thing so I appreciate it's probably a little bit opaque for people and certainly I'm not trying to claim I'm an expert on exactly what it pertained to but I think it was a very vital aspect of the

club because you need that kind of future proofing, that forward thinking and that's what Rich Hawkins was governing really. Dave Harrison though as well, a significant figure for the fact that he was across football operations where it's an integral role really where you're looking at logistics for travel, for

accommodation also at Carrington he was you know at the heart of the refurb that's currently going on at Carrington I'm led to believe that he'll be staying to see that through before departing but yeah it's a round of redundancies are happening right you know these are calls that are being made this week there's a lot of emotion again involved you know it's up to 200 people is looking like something like that kind of number leaving the club which would put the overall departures since

Ratcliffe came in at a third of the workforce. So, you know, as we've said before, you can understand why there was a desire to trim the employees. But equally, I think there's certainly, you know, a very sharp desire

edge being applied here and and these are yeah two two figures that are are prominent but there's obviously many others as well uh that have been affected um but yeah there's a the article kind of goes into a bit more detail about the backdrop to it all you know the couple of appointments in the data side that have been made as well one as a consultant dan nickel and one uh as a permanent to lead the data side michael sansoni who was

at Mercedes, the Formula 1 team that obviously INEOS are part owners of. So yeah, have a look on The Athletic if you want a bit more detail, but I think it is pretty significant developments again. Yeah, okay. If you want to read more, you know what to do. Go and have a look at Laurie's article and there's also going to be a whole host of

of brilliant articles that you'll love to read all about Manchester United's 3-0 win against Athletic Club in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final what a thought to finish the podcast if you want to get in touch with us you know you can devilspod at theathletic.com but failing that we'll speak to you after Brentford enjoy the moment soak it in a bit more but make sure you get the bloody job done next week see you on the next one take care bye bye

Oh, just one final thing, if you've made it this far. The restaurant was called Gabara in San Sebastian, so definitely head there. Get there early because the tables fill up very quickly, but wonderful restaurant, great food, and smashing martini rosso to wash it all down with. Okay, so mushrooms, eggs, and calimuchos all around then. Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. That wasn't even supposed to be a joke. A yolk? Oh, God. Cracking up. You are fucked. Cut all that out, please.

Keep it. The Athletic FC Podcast Network.